Home Tech

Before I get into how to use it, I feel it necessary to list all of the attachments offered in this little gadget:

Standard Knife

Pliers

Scissors

Nail File

Tweezers

Thin Flathead Screwdriver

Phillips-Head Screwdriver

Eyeglass Phillips-Head Screwdriver

Eyeglass Flathead Screwdriver

Wood Saw

Serrated Blade

Corkscrew

Combination Bottle Opener/Flathead Screwdriver

Combination Can Opener/Wire Stripper

Pen

Magnifying Glass

LED Flashlight

1GB USB Memory Stick.

I mean… well… holy crap! That’s a lot of stuff for one little tool!

But here’s what makes it really special: these attachments slide onto three inner axle assemblies, which are held in place by end caps that twist off. Which means you can customize the tool with any or all of the attachments. The more attachments you desire, the greater the width of the tool. This modular approach makes the Quirky Switch stand out as one of the most versatile multi-tools ever made.

I know next to nothing about insulation. Except that our old house doesn’t have enough of it.

But I work with a colleague who recently taught me a little bit about the different kinds of insulation and, most importantly, what a difference proper installation of insulation can make. He used phrases like “nice face stapling”, “low density” and “band joist”. A new vocabulary for me that rolled off his tongue as easy as pie.

You simply slide the yellow lever to select the voltage you need. For example, to charge 2 AA rechargeable batteries (1.5 volts per battery) you slide the lever to position 1 for 3 volts and pop the batteries into the compartment on the backside of the panel. To charge a 3.6 volt battery for a cell phone you’d slide the lever to the 2nd position for 6 volts and plug the connector into the phone. There are 5 different connectors plus alligator clips included.

The handle doubles as an adjustable stand which allows the panel to be positioned for maximum sunlight exposure. And it stores energy for later use.

You can charge all sorts of equipment with this little panel. Portable radios, cell phones, MP3 players, flashlights. You name it.

Anyone who has seen the Disney/Pixar film UP knows about Carl Fredricksen’s amazing flying house. Using hundreds of balloons, the old guy manages to fly across the world and get into all sorts of amazing adventures.

We’ve been lucky when it comes to basement flooding. I have a friend who lives at the base of a hill that’s full of ledge rock resulting in rivers of runoff water in her basement. She’s ended up with members of the local volunteer fire department pumping out her basement on more than one occasion.

I’ve had several of these devices, each one of a different design because I was unhappy with the previous model. The wall-mounted reels tend to be flimsy, cracking in various areas not long after mounting. The reels on wheels love to tip over—and also suffer from a limited life span.